The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-10-08
VOLUME XXI.
he had sufficiently recovered from his
amazement to answer her.


Higgins's barn too quickly to be
stopped, as dusk was gathering. But
three men stood across the road, and
the horse stopped. The men were all
masked, but Nettie knew well that it
was her lover who grasped the horse
by the bride and ordered her grand
father to alight.
1t was hard task to laugh. but Net
tie was brave in the face of the actual
peril. With light laugh she said:
II am not Mr. Snow. Don't you
know girl from an old man2'
This is Mr.. Shows buggy" growled
one of the men.
well, hasn't he a right to lend it to
his granddaughter to 60 home inP" re-
torted Nettic.
"Aint he going over to Mitchelrsp"
asked the growing voice.
mo. Oh!"-as if the idea had sud-
denly occurred to her = "Oh. you
wicked men You thought grandfather
was taking money to Mr.. Mitchell's
Oh, am so glad! He met Wilson in
town, and he has sent Mr.. Mitchell the
| rents
| The ficrceness Of the oaths that met
this statement made Nettie's heart
sink. But she sat erect, and watched
the hand that held her horse. In the
first surprise the man turned to his
companions, and Nettie gathering the
rcins firmly in her left hand, suddenly
brought the whip lash, with all the
force of her young arm, across the
hand she was watching. Involuntarily
it loosened its grasp, while the horse,
started by the same blow, dashed ahead
with a speed that threatened new dam
ger. for the dusk was gathering.
Nettie saw Harry Lane at the cross
roads, patiently waiting. but was COM
PEELED to pass at full speed with only a
nod of recognition.
Before she reached her destination
she had full control of the horse again.
but it was very pale face that con-
fronted the fatherly old man who re-
ceived her.
| With low, faltering voice she told
her story. unbound her hair and deliv-
cred the money.
But instead of counting it, Mr..
Mitchell tossed it down, and asked:
"Nettic. did you recognize the menp"
"Only one of them"
"And that one-who was hep"
"Oh, don't ask me. Oh, Mr.. Mitch
ell, don't, don't ask me-.
| And then, thoroughly unnervcd at
last, Nettie broke into a passion of sobs.
She turned to the door, her hair all
streaming about her shoulders. but
Mr.. Mitchell put his hand ON her arm
and gently detained her
"You must toll me! Is it for mig sake
you are silentp Would he-he-the
man-rob meP Nettie, you must speak.
Was it my sonP'
Her face answered him, for she could
not speak. With shaking limbs she
left the house, and drove home. What
spirit of bravado tempted Frank
Mitchell to be there, waiting for her,
she could not tell, but he was in the
sitsing-room, chatting with her mother
as she entered. Weary as she was
the sight reused all Nettie's spirit
and in answer to her mothers ques.
ton:
why, Nettie. did you drive homer
she told her story in every detail, ex
cepting he recognition of the man who
listened. Then saying:
Il must go and put up my hair, >
she turned to leave the room again
Stopping as she passed her visitor
she said in q voice heard only by him
self:
you are wise to wear your glove!
until the mark of my whip lash is gone
from your hand"
Folks said they '.reckoned young
Mitchell was Tilted by Nettie Wilder
fore he loft Clovcrdale and went off t.
York TO live; but, arter all, she'd got a
good husband, for everybody knew
Harry Lane had just loved the grount
she walked on ever since he was nit,
of boy" And Harry Lane wonder
why Nettie always has grave face fol
a moment when she sees the first Octo
Der pippins or any of Higgins yellow
pears.-M Y Ledger